Room2 unveils the world’s first net zero hometel in London
Opening in London on 1 December 2021, room2 Chiswick is set to make history by becoming the world’s first ‘fully net zero’ hometel
The carbon-free property is the brainchild of room2 founders Robert and Stuart Godwin who invite guests to enjoy “the full experience without the footprint”.
The UK’s first ‘hometel’ concept, room2 was founded in 2015 by the brothers and combines the best of a hotel with an Airbnb-style residence. The company’s newest property is set to make history at a pivotal time when climate change is top of the news agenda as world leaders commit to ambitious net zero carbon reduction plans at COP 26.
“Taking full accountability for our entire carbon footprint is room2’s baseline commitment going forward, investing in low energy and carbon solutions to align with our parent company’s Net Zero Roadmap by 2030,” Robert says.
The property, based in Chiswick in west London, will use 89% less energy per m2 compared to typical UK hotels. It’s also the first hotel in the world to fully account for its entire carbon footprint. In order to become ‘net zero’ the hotel, will rebalance all embodied and operational carbon acquired during its lifestyle, from the production, construction and eventual clearance of the building, to the carbon amassed from ongoing operations and maintenance.
The property will utilise the latest available technologies to become as energy efficient as possible, while taking steps such as working with local craftspeople and supplies to further reduce its footprint, while maintaining high standards of quality and comfort throughout. The brothers hope that the opening will sets a new global industry standard for environmental responsibility and show their peers that becoming sustainabile doesn’t mean sacrificing style, convenience or enjoyment.
“room2 puts a huge emphasis on our guest experience and connection to our local communities. With carbon emissions being the biggest threat to our planet, and with devastating impacts being felt across the world, we believe in our responsibility to prioritise our global communities and ensure our presence wouldn’t contribute further to the problem,” Robert says.
He believes that to ensure real change, business leaders have an obligation to make the first steps and set a positive example for others to follow. “Responsibility falls on all of us to make strides towards building a more sustainable future and keep the Paris Agreement’s 1.5-degree target within reach,” he says. “We hope other hotel companies will join us in this urgent fight against climate change.”